AN EYESORE in the historic heart of Ringwood is to be given a temporary makeover after New Forest District Council threatened to serve legal notices on the developers.

The old town hall – later the cinema – was to be included in a development linking the Furlong shopping centre with Market Place.

But because of the recession, Development Securities (Furlong) Ltd put the project on hold and the building has become shabby and a blot on the townscape.

Now, following the threat of notices being served, 13 improvements suggested by the company’s architects have been agreed by the district council.

Work – which includes tidying up brickwork, stucco and facades, removing cloth canopies, old signs and alarm boxes, repairing roof drains, putting new security boards over windows, painting the frontage and removing the scaffolding – will be carried out during April and May.

In a letter to the architects, the council’s head of planning, Chris Elliott warned: “It is, however, only fair to advise you that should you not be able to make a prompt start and then complete these works within your proposed timetable, the service of formal notices is likely without further discussion with you or your clients.”

As well as agreeing to the wash and brush up, Development Securities has said it will submit new plans in about two months, with work expected to begin in about a year.

Jim Stride of Ringwood Traders’ Group said: “It’s really great, especially with the summer coming on, to have that building tidied up for the town.”

Mayor Cllr Christine Ford said: “I’m sure that both residents and visitors to the town will welcome the improvement of what has become a significant eyesore.”

And district council planning portfolio-holder Cllr Chris Treleaven said: “The council looks forward to discussing the new proposals for the site with the owners, against the background of the short-term improvements taking place at the same time.”

A Development Securities spokesman said the new application would be “retail with a residential component at the Market Place.”

He added that it would “significantly regenerate the Market Place and its surrounding area”.